Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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Nolan Randall playing the first guitar solo of “Cowboy Song” by Thin Lizzy from their 1976 album Jailbreak for Mercury Records.
Words and music by Phil Lynott and Brian Downey
I am just a cowboy lonesome on the trail
A starry night the campfire light
The coyote call
And the howling winds wail
So I'll ride out to the old sundown
I am just a cowboy lonesome on the trail
Lord I'm just thinkin' about a certain female
The nights we spent together ridin' on the range
Lookin' back it seems so strange
Roll me over and turn me around
Let me keep spinnin' 'til I hit the ground
Roll me over and let me go, ridin' in the rodeo
I was took in Texas I did not know her name
Lord all these southern girls they seem the same
Down below the border in a town in Mexico
I got my job bustin' broncs for the rodeo
Roll me over and turn me around
Let me keep spinnin' 'til I hit the ground
Roll me over and let me go, runnin' free with the buffalo
(Here I go)
Roll me over
And I'll turn around
And I'll move my fingers
Up and down
Up and down
It's okay amigo
Just let me go
Ridin' in the rodeo
Roll me over and turn me around
Let me keep spinnin' 'til I hit the ground
Roll me over and let me go, ridin' in the rodeo
Roll me over and set me free
The cowboy's life is the life for me
*Song Facts*
"Cowboy Song" is a song by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy that originally appeared on their 1976 album Jailbreak.
Released as a single in an edited version, it reached No. 77 on the US charts, but at the time did not gain as much attention as two of their most popular songs on the same album: "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "Jailbreak". The song was written by frontman Phil Lynott and drummer Brian Downey.
Written from the perspective of a cowboy, the lyrics tell of his wandering across the United States through various adventures and romances. The song begins with a mellow acoustic, country music-style introduction before a transition to up-tempo hard rock.
"Cowboy Song" has since been described as one of Thin Lizzy's great songs because it has "one of the catchiest, most memorable twin-guitar harmony leads ever". AllMusic described the song as turning the commonplace into legend, or bringing myth into the modern world. The author of Phil Lynott: The Rocker, Mark Putterford, described the song as "a cross between Clint Eastwood and Rudolph Valentino, with a bit of George Best thrown in for good measure".
Over time, it has become a fan favourite and one of Thin Lizzy's signature songs. The song is now one of their most popular and referred to as a classic.
Though the song is strong lyrically, bass player and writer Lynott was never afraid to allow the axemen to dominate a track, and it features some typically blistering Lizzy soloing.
"Cowboy Song" was used in the 2016 film Eddie the Eagle when Hugh Jackman's character, a drunk Bronson Peary, ski jumps down a 90-metre jump. The song was also featured in the 2013 independent film The Kings of Summer when the main character (Joe Toy) first bike rides into the woods.
Released in late February 2016, the authorized biography of Phil Lynott is titled Cowboy Song.
Golden Smog released a version on their 1992 five-song EP On Golden Smog.
Anthrax released a version on their 1993 studio album Sound of White Noise as the bonus track for the album's Japanese release.
Dump released a version on their 2003 studio album A Grown-Ass Man. CMJ New Music Report called the song the best track on the disc.
Supersuckers regularly sing a version at their live concerts. They also released a version on their 2008 album Get It Together (DVD [live] bonus disc).
Million Dollar Reload released a version on their 2014 live album As Real As It Gets.
PlanetMosh called the song a great choice of cover and a great way to end the [live] show.
*Noles Thoughts*
Thin Lizzy will always have a special place in my heart. I visited the Phil Lynott statue in Dublin, Ireland in 2010. Got a few pictures, and honoured the legend. As much as I love U2, Thin Lizzy would have to be my favourite Irish rock band of all time. So many great songs, and such stellar musicianship.
Phil Lynott also influences me as a vocalist. He's a hard rock pioneer, but he didn't sing with distortion like Alice Cooper or Bon Scott. Not that it's bad to sing with distortion. I just know from a personal level, I can't sing like that. Because it ruins my voice. So I look up to the singers in hard rock that have cleaner and more unique voices. And Phil Lynott was no exception. With an emphasis on vibrato.
The twin lead guitars from Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham in "Cowboy Song" are truly amazing. I could name a number of other Thin Lizzy songs that could really showcase their lead guitar harmony sound. Especially with Gary Moore. But if I were to pick one song that could illustrate their signature twin lead guitar sound, it would be "Cowboy Song".
#ThinLizzy #CowboySong #HardRock
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Nolan Randall playing the first guitar solo of “Cowboy Song” by Thin Lizzy from their 1976 album Jailbreak for Mercury Records.
Words and music by Phil Lynott and Brian Downey
I am just a cowboy lonesome on the trail
A starry night the campfire light
The coyote call
And the howling winds wail
So I'll ride out to the old sundown
I am just a cowboy lonesome on the trail
Lord I'm just thinkin' about a certain female
The nights we spent together ridin' on the range
Lookin' back it seems so strange
Roll me over and turn me around
Let me keep spinnin' 'til I hit the ground
Roll me over and let me go, ridin' in the rodeo
I was took in Texas I did not know her name
Lord all these southern girls they seem the same
Down below the border in a town in Mexico
I got my job bustin' broncs for the rodeo
Roll me over and turn me around
Let me keep spinnin' 'til I hit the ground
Roll me over and let me go, runnin' free with the buffalo
(Here I go)
Roll me over
And I'll turn around
And I'll move my fingers
Up and down
Up and down
It's okay amigo
Just let me go
Ridin' in the rodeo
Roll me over and turn me around
Let me keep spinnin' 'til I hit the ground
Roll me over and let me go, ridin' in the rodeo
Roll me over and set me free
The cowboy's life is the life for me
*Song Facts*
"Cowboy Song" is a song by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy that originally appeared on their 1976 album Jailbreak.
Released as a single in an edited version, it reached No. 77 on the US charts, but at the time did not gain as much attention as two of their most popular songs on the same album: "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "Jailbreak". The song was written by frontman Phil Lynott and drummer Brian Downey.
Written from the perspective of a cowboy, the lyrics tell of his wandering across the United States through various adventures and romances. The song begins with a mellow acoustic, country music-style introduction before a transition to up-tempo hard rock.
"Cowboy Song" has since been described as one of Thin Lizzy's great songs because it has "one of the catchiest, most memorable twin-guitar harmony leads ever". AllMusic described the song as turning the commonplace into legend, or bringing myth into the modern world. The author of Phil Lynott: The Rocker, Mark Putterford, described the song as "a cross between Clint Eastwood and Rudolph Valentino, with a bit of George Best thrown in for good measure".
Over time, it has become a fan favourite and one of Thin Lizzy's signature songs. The song is now one of their most popular and referred to as a classic.
Though the song is strong lyrically, bass player and writer Lynott was never afraid to allow the axemen to dominate a track, and it features some typically blistering Lizzy soloing.
"Cowboy Song" was used in the 2016 film Eddie the Eagle when Hugh Jackman's character, a drunk Bronson Peary, ski jumps down a 90-metre jump. The song was also featured in the 2013 independent film The Kings of Summer when the main character (Joe Toy) first bike rides into the woods.
Released in late February 2016, the authorized biography of Phil Lynott is titled Cowboy Song.
Golden Smog released a version on their 1992 five-song EP On Golden Smog.
Anthrax released a version on their 1993 studio album Sound of White Noise as the bonus track for the album's Japanese release.
Dump released a version on their 2003 studio album A Grown-Ass Man. CMJ New Music Report called the song the best track on the disc.
Supersuckers regularly sing a version at their live concerts. They also released a version on their 2008 album Get It Together (DVD [live] bonus disc).
Million Dollar Reload released a version on their 2014 live album As Real As It Gets.
PlanetMosh called the song a great choice of cover and a great way to end the [live] show.
*Noles Thoughts*
Thin Lizzy will always have a special place in my heart. I visited the Phil Lynott statue in Dublin, Ireland in 2010. Got a few pictures, and honoured the legend. As much as I love U2, Thin Lizzy would have to be my favourite Irish rock band of all time. So many great songs, and such stellar musicianship.
Phil Lynott also influences me as a vocalist. He's a hard rock pioneer, but he didn't sing with distortion like Alice Cooper or Bon Scott. Not that it's bad to sing with distortion. I just know from a personal level, I can't sing like that. Because it ruins my voice. So I look up to the singers in hard rock that have cleaner and more unique voices. And Phil Lynott was no exception. With an emphasis on vibrato.
The twin lead guitars from Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham in "Cowboy Song" are truly amazing. I could name a number of other Thin Lizzy songs that could really showcase their lead guitar harmony sound. Especially with Gary Moore. But if I were to pick one song that could illustrate their signature twin lead guitar sound, it would be "Cowboy Song".
#ThinLizzy #CowboySong #HardRock
